Father flees Cuba with family for better life in US - Atlanta News, Weather, Traffic, and Sports | FOX 5

When Good Day Atlanta received an email from Angel Alonso's son, it said nothing about where his family came from originally. Angel Alonso, Sr. was a man who came to America to give his children a better life.

He is not a man who loves attention. The 78-year-old was speechless when the Good Day Atlanta cameras arrived at his store and he found out his son wrote to Good Day about his awesome dad.

He's owned Indian Trail Hardware in Norcross for more than 20 years. He can teach you everything there is to know about hammers and nails. His son, Angel, Jr., says the lessons only start there.

"Every day, we're learning more and more from him...and I'm very proud of that," said his son Angel Alonso, Jr.
    
The elder Alonso brought his family to Georgia in the 1970s. They came from Cuba, then under the communist rule of Fidel Castro.

"Not any freedom at all.  And if you don't got that, why you wanna live?" asked Angel Alonso, Sr.

Freedom for him means running the store his way.

There is a sign on a wall that reads, "PRICES subject to change according to customer's attitude." The sign is a joke, but attitude is important at the hardware store. It's much more important than money.

"If someone comes and needs his help...that's his pleasure," said Angel Alonso, Jr. "To just be able to have somebody smile and say, you know, thanks, thanks for taking the time and coming out and helping, that's worth a lot."
    
That lesson from his father is why Alonso, Jr. emailed Good Day Atlanta in the first place.

"I can't pay him back for everything he's done. I wish!  Maybe this will be a little way of saying 'thank you' to him," said Alonso, Jr.
    
Angel Alonso, Sr. says he's proud of both his sons, even if one of them made him a little camera-shy.

There's no doubt what Angel Alonso, Sr. would like to be doing this Father's Day. He's an avid fisherman and often fishes in Florida. "Think like a fish, and you'll catch fish," is his key to success.

Read Angel Alonso's letter to Good Day Atlanta!

My dad is now 78 years old, and has not only taking time to show us to be good and do things for others. I'm a volunteer for a lot of departments in Gwinnett County and Atlanta, doing for others and helping in a lot of ways. People say if you don't get paid for it, don't do it. Well, my dad is the best dad around; doing for others has showed me not only to be nice to all. But the kindness we do is priceless and has made me a better person. Thank you dad, I just wish others could not only be like you but learn from you. It doesn't matter how much money you have, if you're not taking time to help someone because you can, not to get anything in return, you're not living or know real happiness.

Angel Alonso, Jr.
My Dad is Angel, Sr.